The Columbus Park Board and city government face a dilemma. Greenbelt and Par 3 golf courses are losing money.
When the public courses were placed under the operational control of the city parks department in October 2015, the hope was that course revenues would cover the operating cost.
It has not worked out that way, however.
Near the end of last year, both city courses had a combined $9,000 more in expenses than revenues — a deficit that exceeds $70,000 if personnel services are included.
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The courses are in the red this year, too. The deficit is nearly $63,000 — or almost $111,000 if salaries and benefits of staff are included.
There’s a strong correlation between bottom line and golf activity. The number of rounds of golf are down this year — 30 percent at Greenbelt, 17 percent at Par 3 — with inclement weather earlier this year a significant contributing factor.
While these trends are disappointing, we can’t lose sight of the role those courses play in the quality of life in the Columbus community. The courses are community assets that serve all ages and golfers of all income levels.
The city has other parks and facilities that it maintains that are not revenue-neutral: Donner Center/Park, Mill Race Park and Noblitt Park, for example.
Greenbelt and Par 3 should be looked at in a similar holistic manner. Both play a key role in Columbus’ overall park system and need to be preserved.
It may take some creative thinking to help improve the financial picture, but the courses play an important role in the community and are worth the efforts to keep them viable.
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